Carton for packaging merchandise in multiple



June 24,1958 R. c. POOLE, JR

CARTON FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE IN MULTIPLE Filed Nov. 1, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Richard C. Poole, Jr.

ATTORNEY Jun 24, 1958 R. C.'POOLE, JR

CARTON FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE IN MULTIPLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV.1, 1954 INVENTOR. Richard C Poole,

ATTORNEY June 24, 1958 R. c. POOLE, JR ,2

CARTON FOR PACKAGING MERCHANDISE IN MULTIPLE Filed Nov. 1, 1954 sSheets-Sheet. 3

.8! 7 I M. p19

IN V EN TOR. Richard C. Poo/e, Jr:

BY W%.W

ATTORNEY M Sm PACKAGING MERCHANDISE INMULTIPLE Richard :C. Poole, Jr.,New Rochelle, N. Y.,' assignor to M -Walton Lynch, trustee, Hamden, ConnApplication November 1, 1954, Serial Na. 4 5,904 6 claims. or. zoo-'65ARTO FOR This invention relates to improvements in cartons for thepackaging of a plurality of articles as a unit. The invention hasparticular application to cartons for the packaging of cylindricalarticles, such asglasses, jars or cans, for example cans containingfood, beverages, oil or dry products. i

Packaging of several articles of merchandise as 'a unit 2,840,232Patented June 24, 1958 gluing, stitching, stapling or rive-ting eitherto the underside or the top side ofthe top structure or betweenoverlapping portions of thetop panels, as the case may be.

The provision of the central partition permits even greatereconomy,since it permits reduction of the board caliper due to the fact that theouter sidewalls are not has been widely adopted, since the multiplepackage or 1 unit can be readily carriedby, the consumer fwithoutfurther wrapping or packaging and since packaging in multiplefacilitates storage and handling of the merchandise in transport,storage and sale. p 7 7 Special considerations enter .into the designand the manufacture of cartons and carrier cartons for cans which arenot present in other form of carriers, for example, the commonly knownbottle carriers.

Can packages or'carriers are single-use items. They are discarded afterthe cans are removed from the package and are not re-used. V I C I Forthis reason, the cost of thecarton is a very important factor, since theentire cost must be absorbed in. the single trip which the carton makesfrom themanufacturer to the consumer, in distinction from bottlecarriers which usually make several round trips, reducing the cost ofthe carrier per sale proportionately. I In single-use cartons savings inblank size and board caliper-are of particular importance and it isdesirable to maintain board area and board caliper at a minimum.

- Reduction of the blank size and of the board caliper generally leadsto a corresponding loss of strength of the carton. One of the structuraldetails which imparts strength to cartons of the aforementionedcharacter, particularly can' carriers, is a center. partition betweenvthe two rows of cans or other articles. One .oflthe principal functionsof a center partition is to transmit a portion of thel'oad of the cartoncontents to thetop wall or handle by which the carton is carried. i

- Center partitions of conventional form require additional board, andthere has been a tendency to eliminate them in order to reduce thesizeof the blank. Elimination of the central load carrying structurewhichconnects the bottom of the carton and the top, puts the entire load ofthe carton contents on the outer sidewalls. This is undesirable,particularly in forms of the carton or carrier in which the cans arelocked in the carton: by slots or apertures in the sidewalls throughwhich theend s of the cans partially project. These apertures lie at, or

adjacent to, the fold lines along which the sidewalls of,

reduce the load transmitting portion of the'boardto considerably lessthan the of the sidewalls."

subjected to the entire load of the carton contents, but only toaiportion of the'load, the remainder of the load beingtransmitted'directlyto the top wall structure and the-handle," in" theeventa handle is provided. The center partition provided by theinvention further increases thestrength and the rigidity of the cartonsince it 'prevents'sag'ging'of the bottom and'bellyingoutof the top, ifthe carton is lifted up by-the top panel structure. These and otherfeatures, objects, and advantages of the invention will appear-morefully from the detailed description which follows, accompanied bydrawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, a preferredem-'bodime'ntof the invention,- The invention also consists in certainfnewand original features of construction and combinationbf structuralelements hereinafter set forth and claimed. V N 4 N Although thedharacteristiefeaturesof the invention which are' believed to'be novelwill be particularly point;

ed out in the claims, the invention itself and the manner in which itmay be carried but may be better understood "byreferring'to thefollowing description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawingsforming a part of it, in which; i 7

Fig.1 is aplan view of a flat blank from which a carrier cartonembodying the present invention may be made; V

Fig; 2is a perspective view of the blank after an initial foldingoperation; e i V Fig. 3 isa perspective view of the blank of' Fig. 2loaded with'cans'j i I V Y Fig.4 is a perspective view of the blank andcans after afurther folding operation; Fig. fi is a perspective view ofthe completed, sealed carrier carton of Figs. 1 to 4 i Fig. 6 is a planview.:of a modified form of blank including ahan dle;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a carrier cartonmade c f 3 aspects ofthe invention, but it is understood that the details may be modified invarious respects without departure from the broad principles of theinvention and that the invention may be applied to other structures thanthe ones, specifically shown in the drawings.

The blank A shown in Figure 1 may be cut and scored, in multiple, fromlarge rolls ,or sheets of sheet material, more particularly foldablesheet material, such as paper board, on automatic cutting and scoringmachines; Only one surface of the stock requires imprintingor'decorative finishing, since only one side appearsas the outside ofthe carrier or carton. The blank A is shown with its; unfinished backside facing the observer.

The several constituent parts of theblank are setjapart, by foldorcrease lines orby cuts. The ;blank comprises a bottom structureconsisting of a single bottom panelll to which-sidewall panels 12 and 13are articulated along bottom fold lines '14,and,15.'- Top panels 16, and,17 are articulated to thesidewall panels 12 iand;13 1along top foldlines 18 and19, respectively. 1

Cartons or. carriers embodying the presentrinvention may be providedwith any one of various conventional means for lockingthemerchandise inthe assembled carton or carrier. Such means are illustrated, forexample, in thepatent to Carruth, No. 2,656,960, but in the illustratedexample, they comprisea plurality of arcuate cuts: 20 at, or adjacent,the bottom and top fold lines 14, 15,. 18 and 19. These arcuate cutsprovide :selfopening apertures into which portions of, the ends of the,cans,

glasses, jars, or other articles project, when the carton is assembled.p

A partition-forming central structure of the carton,

comprises strips 21 and 22 cut from thestock of the bottom panel 11and'from'the sidewallpanels'12 and'13, respectively. In their preferredform the strips, 21 .and 22 have flared out enlargedbase portions 23 and24. along which the strips are articulated" to the bottom ,panel 11 atbase foldlines 25 and 26 which, due to the flared design, are longerthan the width wv of the strips. The strips 21and 22 are staggered withrespect to the arcuatecuts which define the areas of the bottom llandtop. structure 16, 17 against which the can ends rest.

The otherends 27 and 28 of the strips are also en: larged and are, inthe illustrated embodiment, of circular shape comprising finger holes 29and 30. The purpose of these finger holes will become apparentas the.description proceeds.

The top panels 16 and 17 are provided; with similar finger holes orcutouts 31 and 32, respectively. Crease lines 33, 34 may extend acrossthe enlargedtop, ends 27 and 28 of thestrips.

The assembly of the blank A into;carton or carrier form and its loadingwith merchandisemay proceedas follows: a

For the purpose of assembly and loading, the fiat-blank A may beadvanced in a transverse direction, as indicated by the arrow 35 inFigure 2. Thismay be; done by placing the carrier on the conveyer ofsuitable folding and filling machinery. As the blank advances, thestrips 21 and 22 are raised to a vertical position.

Next, a plurality of cans or other articles to be packaged are depositedon the blank A as shown in Figure 3. The cans 36 are arranged in tworows,one row being on one side of the strips 21, 22 and the other rowbeipg on the other side. As is apparent from FigureS, the width of thetwo rows of cans, in other words twice the can diameter, is slightlygreater than the width of the bottom panel 11, as measured between thebottom fold lines 14 and 15. For this reason the canchimes 37 sub--stantially register with the arcuate cuts20 andprotrude;

slightly through the sidewalls 12 and 13 whenthe side walls are foldedinto upright position. v t H Figure 4 illustrates the blank A. and the.ca ns136:;at; a ,further advanced stage of the operations The side-.-wall 13 is upright and the top wall 17 is folded over and carrying thefilled carton.

the tops of the cans. Theenlarged top ends of the strips 27 and 28 towhich adhesive a was previously applied (see Figure 2) are folded over,and into adhesive engagement with, the top panel 17. In this positionthe finger holes 29 and 30 of the strips register with the cutouts 32 inthe top panel 17.

The sidewall 12 is then folded upright and the top panel 16 is foldedover the tops of the cans and brought into adhesive engagement with thetop panel 17 and the 'ends 27, 28 of the strips. For this purposeadhesive a was previously applied to a marginal portion of the panel 16,as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows the loaded and closed carrier A, As is apparent fromFigureS, thefinger holes 31 in the top panel 16 register with the fingerholes 29 and 30 inthe ends 27, 28 of the strips. Thus fingergripapertures are provided in the top structure of the carrier through whichtwo fingers maybe inserted for the purpose of lifting Due to theconstruction of the carrier three plys of stock are present at thefingergrip apertures of the carrier.

The strips 21 and 22 form a central partition between the two rows ofcans and transmit a portion of the weight of the cans directly from thecentral portion of the bottom panel 11 to the points at which thecarrier is lifted up. In this manner sagging of the bottom panel andbellying out of the top structure is prevented.

It is also readily 'seen that the load sustained by the sidewallsisreduced. This is of importance, since the lines of articulationbetween the top and bottom structure and the sidewalls, respectively,are interrupted and are relatively short. As seen in Figure 4, forexample, the fold lines 15'along which the sidewall panel 13 remainsattached to the bottom panel 11 are relatively short and are interruptedby the arcuate cuts 20.

The carrier A is sturdy and requires no more stock than conventionalcarriers having no central partition.

Figure 6 illustrates a blank B, corresponding in most particulars to theblank A shown in Figure l, exceptfor theprovision of handle panels 38and 39 articulated to the top panels 16 and 17 along handle fold lines40v and 41. The handle panels are provided with hand apertures 42 and43. The strips 21 and 22 are again shown as having flared base portions23 and 24, but their tophends 27 and 28' are plain. In all otherrespects the blank B [COF responds with the blank A and the samereference -numerals areapplied to-:corresponding elements. 6 Figures 7and 8 show a closed and loaded carrier B assembled from the blankB. Thehandle panels 38 and 39.1ie face to face. The hand apertures 42 and 43coincide, and the endsof the strips '21 and 22 extend between the handlepanels and are secured thereto in a suitable manner. Wire staples 44 areparticularlysuitable for securing han-. dle panels and centralpartition, since they obviate .the use of adhesive in the assembly ofthe carrier. U

Obviously the invention may be applied to carriers, and cartons in whichthe merchandise are held or locked by other means than the onesspecifically disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of chime-end tin cans, the package compr 1sing, a pluralityof chime-end tin cans, arranged in two opposite and parallel rowscontaining equal numbers of cans, and an enclosing carton, the cartoncomprising, a one-piece bottom panel having can end-supporting areasthereon equal in number -to the number of cans; two side wall panelsarticulated to said bottom panel along bottom fold lines spacedless'thantwice the diameter of the chime ends; a top structureincludingtwo top panels ariticulated to the tops of said side wallpanels along top fold.

-line s,.;said,twotop panels being secured together, the spac-;

ingof theu-top fold lines being equaltothe spacing ,of'the. bottomfoldlines; and -a centralstructure conmprising at: least one strip cutfrom the stock of the bottom panel and of a side wall panelby asubstantially U-shaped cut, the bight of the U lying in the side wallpanel below the top fold line, said strip being staggered with regard tosaid areas and beingintegral with, andar'ticulated at one end to, saidbottom panel'al'ong a" base fold line intermediate said bottom foldlines, fromwhich base foldline said strip extends at right anglesiwithrespect to said ,bottom panel, the. other end of the strip being securedto said top panel structure; said sidiwall panels having chime aperturestherein, immediately adjacent said bottom and said top fold linesthrough whichapertures thej'chimes of cans resting on said bottom maypartially project, said apertures being staggered with regard to saidstrip and being in line with said areasi 2. A package of chime-end tincans, the package com prising, a plurality of chime-end tin cans,arranged in two opposite and parallel rows containing equal numbers ofcans, and an enclosing carton, the carton comprising, a one-piece bottompanel having can end-supporting areas thereon equal in number to thenumber of cans, two side wall panels articulated to said bottom panelalong bottom fold lines spaced less than twice the diameter of the chimeends; a top structure including two top panels articulated to the topsof the said side wall panels along top fold lines, said two top panelsbeing secured together, the spacing ofthe top fold lines being equal tothe spacing of the bottom fold lines; and a central structure comprisingone strip cut from the stock of the bottom panel and of one of said sidewall panels, and a second strip cut from the stock of the bottom paneland of the other side wall panel, said strips being formed bysubstantially U-shaped cuts, the bight of the U lying in the side wallpanel below the top fold line, said strips being staggered with regardto said areas and being integral with, and articulated at one end to,said bottom panel along base fold lines intermediate said bottom foldlines from which base fold lines said strips extend at right angles withrespect to said bottom panel, the other ends of the strips being securedto said top panel structure, said top panel structure having at leastone finger grip aperture therein, said side wall panels having chimeapertures therein immediately adja cent said bottom and said top foldlines through which apertures the chimes of cans resting on the bottompanel may partially project, said apertures being staggered with regardto said strips and being in line with said areas.

3. A package of chime-end tin cans, the package comprising, a pluralityof chime-end tin cans, arranged in two parallel and opposite rowscontaining equal numbers of cans, and an enclosing carton, the cartoncomprising, a one-piece bottom panel having can end-supporting areasthereon equal in number to the number of cans; two side wall panelsarticulated to said bottom panel along bottom fold lines spaced lessthan twice the diameter of the chime ends; a top structure articulatedto the tops of said side wall panels along top fold lines, the spacingof the top fold lines being equal to the spacing of the bottom foldlines; and a central structure comprising at least one strip cut fromthe stock of the bottom panel and of a side wall panel by asubstantially U-shaped cut, the bight of the U lying in the side wallpanel below the top fold line, said strip being staggered with regard tosaid areas and being integral with, and articulated at one end to, saidbottom panel along a base fold line intermediate said bottom fold linesfrom which base fold line said strip extends at right angles withrespect to said bottom panel, the other end of the strip having anaperture therethrough and being secured to said top structure, said topstructure having a finger grip aperture extending through it in registerwith the aperture in said strip, saidside wall panels having chimeapertures therein immediately adjacent said bottom and said top foldlines through which apertures the chimes of cans resting on the bottompanel may partially project, said apertures being staggered with regardto said strip and being in line with said areas.

4. A package of chime-end tin cans, the package comprising, a pluralityof chime-end tin cans, arranged in two parallel and opposite rowscontaining equal numbers of cans, and an enclosing carton, the cartonwcomprising, a

one piece bottom panel having can end-supportingareasthereon equal innumber to the number of cans two side wall panels articulated to saidbottom panelalong bottom fold lines; and a central structure comprisinga strip cut from the stock of the bottom panel and one" side wall panelbya substantially'U-shaped cut, 1andj another strip cut from the stockof the bottom paneland of the other side wall panel by a similarU-shaped cut, thebight of the U lying in the'side wall below the topfold'line, said strips being staggered with regard to said areas andbeing integral with, and articulated at one end to, said bottompanelalong base fold lines intermediate said bottom fold lines from whichbase fold lines said strips extend at right angles with respect to saidbottom panel, the other ends of the strips having an aperturetherethrough and being secured to said top structure, said top structurehaving a finger grip aperture extending through it in register with theapertures in said strips, said side wall panels having chime aperturestherein immediately adjacent said bottom and said top fold lines throughwhich apertures the chimes of cans may partially project, said aperturesbeing staggered with regard to said strips and being in line with saidareas.

5. A package of chime-end tin cans, the package comprising, an evennumber of chime-end tin cans, arranged in pairs in double file, and anenclosing carton, the carton comprising, a one-piece bottom panel havingcan-supporting areas thereon equal in number to the number of cans; twoside wall panels articulated to said bottom panel along bottom foldlines spaced less than twice the diameter of the chime ends; two toppanels integral with, and articulated to, said side wall panels alongtop fold lines; and two handle panels articulated to said top panelsalong handle fold lines spaced from the top fold lines less than thediameter of the can ends; and a central structure comprising at leastone strip cut from the stock of the bottom panel'and of a side wallpanelby a substantially U-shaped cut, the bight of the U lying in theside wall panel below the top fold line, said strip being staggered withregard to said areas and being integral with, and articulated at one endto, said bottom panel along a base fold line intermediate said bottomfold lines from which base -fold line said strip extends at rightantially project, said apertures being staggered with regard to saidstrip and being in line with said areas.

6. A package of chime-end tin cans, the package comprising, sixchime-end tin cans, arranged in two parallel and opposite rows of threecans, and an enclosing carton, the carton comprising, a one-piece bottompanel having six can end supporting areas thereon; two side wall panelsarticulated to said bottom panel along bottom fold lines spaced lessthan twice the diameter of the chime ends; two top panels integral with,and articulated to, said side wall panels along top fold lines; and twohandle panels articulated to said top panels along handle fold linesspaced from the top fold lines less than the diameter of the chime ends;and a central structure comprising one strip cut from the stock of thebottom panel and of one of the side wall panels, and a further strip cutfrom the stock of the bottom panel and of the other side wall panel,said strips being formed by substantially U-shapcd cuts, the bight ofthe U lying in the side wall panel below the top fold line, said stripsbeing staggered with regard to said areas and being integral with, andarticulated at one end to, s'aid'bottorn panelalo'ng base foldlinesQsaidbase foldrlines being aligned and lying internally offsaid bottompanL-from whiliba fold lines. said stripsextend at right angles withrespect'to the bottom parieLthe otherflcnd of tlie stripsextend ingbetwe naidfharidle 5 panels and" being securedthereto, Ysaid sid wallpanels havingclii rnejaper'trires thereinimmediately adjacent Saidbottom and Saidtop fold lines through'whichapertures the Chimesoftliefbans may partially projeot, ,said apertures being Staggered withregard to said strips and 'iri 10 linewitli "said areas.

- iiier erencfpitea in theifile of thi patent r STATES PATEN TS 3

